Oscar Pistorius spent seven months on trial last year for the shooting death of model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. In the end, he was convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years. Today, we find out he is to run free after less than one. WTF South Africa?!!
It turns out, that under the sentencing laws applied in his case, he was only really expected to serve one-sixth of his sentence. The rest of the time, he’ll be on probation.
“Oscar will be released on parole by the end of August,” a Pistorius family membertold Reuters. The BBC says August 21 is his release date. Pistorius is known as the Blade Runner. His lower limbs were amputated as a baby but he grew up nonetheless to be an amazing runner, taking home medals in the Paralympics and Olympics.
His trial for the shooting death of his girlfriend drew international coverage.
The whole thing was an accident, he insisted in court and under oath.
His story? He thought an intruder was in the house when he fired several bullets through a bathroom door in the Pretoria house they shared, killing her.
Prosecution witnesses said he was a hot head with a short temper who was increasingly verbally abusive to Steenkamp, 29, who died on Valentines Day in 2013.
It’s hardly over for Pistorius, however.
Prosecutors have won a bid to appeal the culpable homicide conviction and will seek a murder conviction when at a new hearing in November.
Pistorius would likely be sentenced to at least 15 years if he is convicted of murder.
(Reuters contributed reporting.)
‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius to run free after only 10 months in prison
By Metro
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